We’ve achieved so much in our neighbourhood since we began working in a highly localised way. This means the projects we do and the way we engage with our communities has your needs in mind.
Here’s five projects we've been working on in Southbank.
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Engaging with community, listening to what you have told us and then turning your suggestions into actions is a continuous process. Our first community consultation in 2022 asked you to talk about any gaps or issues that you were experiencing.
You highlighted that COVID-19 lockdowns forced us all to live more locally and that these amenities are even more important to you. You told us what you value in your communities, what the challenges and opportunities are and suggestions for shaping and planning the future together.
The priorities listed here reflect the great diversity of voices in the neighbourhood and are the beginning of a cycle of listening that is endorsed by Council’s Neighbourhood Planning Framework.
We’ve listened to you and heard you. We will continue to listen to you and expect over time for recurring themes to emerge and for these local priorities to grow and change. This portal will regularly update what is already happening and what areas we will be exploring further.
For the Wurundjeri, Bunurong, Taungurung, Dja Dja Wurrung and Wadawurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin, the place now known as Melbourne has always been an important meeting place and location for events of political, cultural, social and educational significance. We will ensure that the Traditional Owners’ culture, lore, knowledge, and heritage enrich the city’s growth and development.
What you told us
You value the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people’s ongoing cultural connection to Country and its significance in the development of the city. You would like this connection to be more visible through cultural appropriate signage, more cultural awareness education, native flora, placemaking and creative art initiatives.
“More political voice and space to Aboriginal community - through art installation, gallery, and museums.”
“Organise Welcome to Country events with a shared meal to strengthen community and knowledge of Australia's Aboriginal history.”
“Stop using colonial/settler names for places, streets, buildings etc and recognise the names used by the Traditional Owners.”
What we’re doing
Our Aboriginal Melbourne team monitors and reports on the City of Melbourne’s Reconciliation Action Plan and ensures it is recognised and supported through the organisation’s strategies and actions.
As part of our Reconciliation Action Plan 2021 - 2023 we are identifying and implementing opportunities for the dual naming of spaces to reflect Aboriginal cultural heritage.
We are partnering with the Victorian Government and other stakeholders to deliver specific components of Greenline along the north bank of the Yarra River Birrarung. The Greenline project builds on the Yarra River Birrarung Strategy 2019 that recognises the Yarra River Birrarung as a culturally significant place and major environmental asset.
We have also commenced a Cultural Values Assessment with Wurundjeri for the central city section of the Yarra River Birrarung. This includes the north bank extent of Greenline and the section of the south bank from Queens Bridge east to Alexandra Gardens.
This document will be a key tool for us to use with Wurundjeri to inform where and how culture and knowledge might be reflected in the experiences of the Yarra River Birrarung public spaces.
As part of the Yarra Birrarung Strategy we are engaging with the Traditional Owners to ensure the Aboriginal culture of the Yarra River Birrarung is celebrated including the site of the Falls. This will involve an investigation of Aboriginal cultural opportunities for a memorable landscape or art installation at the site of the Falls on the Southbank side of the river and northside.
At this year’s narrm ngarrgu | Melbourne Knowledge Week we launched Mapping Aboriginal Melbourne a spatial mapping tool highlighting places and events of Aboriginal cultural significance within the city. An interactive map is located in Town Hall Commons and available in desktop and mobile versions. This educational resource has been developed with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation and the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation and supports Council in placemaking and signage. The Map identifies a number of Aboriginal Places of Significance in the Southbank area.
We host the YIRRAMBOI Festival every second year, providing opportunities for Aboriginal artists to present their continuous and diverse contemporary practices.
If you want to get familiar with the living culture and Aboriginal history, use this reading list of books by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers. You can borrow all the books from our libraries.
October 2023
- On 21 March, Melbourne City Council endorsed a motion in support of the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart, and the ‘yes’ campaign for the Constitutional Recognition of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament. As part of our ongoing commitment to truth-telling, we have compiled a set of resources about the Voice to Parliament, the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart, and the upcoming referendum. We will continue updating these resources as the referendum approaches, including information in multiple languages. We encourage you to bookmark this page to stay up to date. Authorised by Sally Capp in Melbourne on behalf of Melbourne City Council.
- In May, Yirramboi festival brought us an incredible program of First Nations creative exploration for community to experience across the city. In May and June as part of National Reconciliation Week, we hosted a range of events to promote truth-telling, learning, healing and change, including an oration by 2022 Melbournian of the Year, Anotinette Braybrook which is available to view. In July we celebrated National NAIDOC Week and offered a range of activities to embrace and deepen understanding of our Aboriginal history and culture including a Deadly Books Giveaway, NAIDOC in the City event, Finders Keepers Market and more.
- In July, community group Southbank3006 organised an event ‘Understanding Aboriginality and Identity’ to celebrate NAIDOC week. The event was presented by Koorie Heritage Trust and supported by our Inclusive Community Grants.
February 2023
- Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elder, Uncle Dave Wandin, shares the importance of understanding an Acknowledgment of Country and how to deliver it with respect. Link to video.
- Find out more about Melbourne’s Traditional Owners and Aboriginal peoples’ deep connection to Country: Mapping Aboriginal Melbourne
- Monday 13 February marked the 15th Anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations. As part of the ongoing work towards reconciliation, we are in the process of acknowledging, recognising and paying tribute to the Stolen Generations by establishing a marker within the municipality. The Victorian Aboriginal Community – including those who are part of the Stolen Generations and their families – are invited to provide feedback on three potential shortlisted marker locations: Stolen Generations Marker
We will reduce economic and social inequality by ensuring universal access to housing, core services and information.
What you told us
You would like to see more casual and bookable community and recreational spaces available in Southbank for people of all ages and all abilities. These spaces could be indoor or outdoor, affordable and open to anyone.
“......the need for a space that was available to the community in a flexible way. Not a space that could be booked long term for months at a time, like the CoM Creative Space Initiative, but more of a drop-in centre or space in which equipment or a small section could be booked for an afternoon.”
“Multi-use sports pitches - I find it incredible that these have not been provided in the decades that Southbank has existed as a densely populated area.”
“Southbank desperately needs more playgrounds and ideally parks that are properly sheltered from cars. It would be great to have indoor play areas and meeting places for families and individuals for community building activities, including various games, such as table football, table tennis and board games."
What we’re doing
We provide community and meeting spaces for hire and community events at the Boyd Community Hub in Southbank.
We are researching to better understand our current and future recreation facility needs in the Southbank area.
The nearest recreational facilities to Southbank are Riverslide Skate Park in the Alexandra Gardens and the Melbourne City Baths in Swanston Street. You can also swim and play many sports at Melbourne Sports Centres (MSAC) in City of Port Phillip.
Our City Road Master Plan has identified the Northern Undercroft located under Kings Way overpass on the northern side of City Road as an opportunity for recreational space.
We operate several recreation centres, offering a wide range of sports and recreational facilities and programs for people of all ages and fitness levels. You can also find information on sporting activities including cycling, walking, skating and more.
The changing nature of work has seen an immediate demand for a more flexible work life. Coworking spaces are a perfect solution to this and we are supporting this start-up ecosystem through programs and initiatives.
October 2023
- Our libraries provided a safe and welcoming space for all community members, through programs such as storytime for children, book clubs, talks and a writing group.
- We're exploring ways to improve opportunities for women, girls and others to participate in community sport and recreation within City of Melbourne. To achieve this, we are carrying out a Fair Access project. Public consultation was also carried out during September and October to better understand the barriers, as well as enablers to inclusion. Find out more about this work and how to get involved.
- A trial community noticeboard has been set up in the mini skateboard space at the tram stop near City Road and Moray Street intersection. Community events and programs are advertised on the noticeboard.
- The Boyd Village Development is underway. The new building will accommodate mixed-use development including residential and affordable housing. It will also include community facilities across two levels, which will be owned and managed by the City of Melbourne once it’s complete.
February 2023
- Our libraries have recently launched their own Disability Inclusion and Accessibility Plan with action to improve accessibility to our libraries, services and resources.
- A turning of the soil event was held on 7 February for the Boyd Village which will be delivered by PDG in partnership with Investa, Hamilton Marino and the City of Melbourne. Community members will benefit from additional Council facilities in the two levels of the building set aside for the City of Melbourne.
November 2022
- Transforming Southbank Boulevard project is completed. The project created five new public spaces and neighbourhood parks (more than 22,000 sqm) along Southbank Boulevard up to City Road, including the new "risk" play space between Kavanagh and Fawkner streets.
We will prioritise our environment and take urgent action to reduce emissions and waste in order to protect public health, strengthen the economy and create a city that mitigates and adapts to climate change. The City of Melbourne declared a climate and biodiversity emergency in 2019.
What you told us
You would like to see more greening across the neighbourhood in public spaces and communal areas of residential buildings including rooftops. Several of you highlighted that you wanted to see more plants to help reduce noise pollution and provide a cooling green canopy effect.
“Improving the safety and wellbeing of the residents by planting trees wherever possible, literally covering almost every single street, preserving the existing mature trees, installing hedges or adding shrubs and flowers alongside trees on busy streets to beautify the area, to separate from the cars and reduce the noise pollution.“
“I think more needs to be done to balance the overwhelming number of high-rise developments in Southbank with the things necessary for residents such as open space, green space and community space. We have lost so much of our green space and so many trees in this area in recent years.”
“Retrofitted rooftop gardens on older buildings.”
What we’re doing
Gardens for Wildlife Melbourne aims to inspire Melburnians to create space for nature in the city. Whether you have a big backyard, a community garden, a school veggie patch, a green rooftop or pot plants on your balcony, everyone can help promote urban biodiversity. Join the program and make your garden a haven for local wildlife. Or volunteer as a Wildlife Garden Guide to preserve local biodiversity.
As a Citizen Forester, you can volunteer to help create resilient, healthy and diverse urban landscapes for the future. Citizen Foresters are trained in carrying out essential advocacy, monitoring and research tasks.
Our Nature in the City Strategy outlines how we will protect and enhance ecosystem health and biodiversity in our city.
The Urban Forest Strategy aims to help us achieve our vision of a healthy, resilient and diverse urban forest. One of our targets is to achieve 40% canopy cover by 2040 and to do this we are planting 3,000 trees every year. Find out more about Southbank Urban Forest Precinct Plan.
The Urban Forest Fund supports a wide range of projects, including gardens, tree planting, biodiversity projects, green roofs and vertical greening, and intersects with the Green Our City Strategic Action Plan which aims to improve the quality and quantity of green roofs and vertical greening in Melbourne.
Find out more about how to put green roofs, walls, and facades for your building, or how to start street gardens. Find plants suitable for use in urban projects using our Urban Nature Planting Guide.
A community garden guide is available for people who want to start a community garden on land that the City of Melbourne owns or manages. To set up a community garden in a high rise residential building, Owners Corporations can apply for a Connected Community Grant to establish community gardens.
For Southbank Boulevard, our Urban Forest team is coordinating with Capital Works and City Design Studio to install a six metre Palm tree and additional trees to the Playspace. Approximately 300 new trees are being planted along the Southbank Boulevard meeting our biodiversity and urban forest targets.
Find out more information on Greening the City.
October 2023
- We continued our tree planting program with 2554 trees planted this year. There are over 80,000 trees in the City of Melbourne and our canopy cover was mapped at 25 per cent this year.
- Freshwater Place residential building received a Connected Neighbourhood Small Grant to organise social activities around their community garden. The residents will get together to green the communal space.
- We developed a new resource (Greening information for residential buildings) to support apartment building residents to participate in our greening initiative.
- We released our new Greening Melbourne permit system which enables community-led greening on council-owned footpaths. Visit Greening Melbourne to read more about this initiative.
February 2023
- We recently hosted two successful Canopy Green Roof Forum workshops at the Library at the Dock. These workshops were facilitated by Melbourne’s emerging horticultural star Jac Semmler, who provided residents from Docklands, CBD and Southbank with practical planting advice and design tips to beautify their rooftops and balconies with biodiverse flowers and year-round blooms. Community participants were delighted to partake in the planting session with Councillor Hakim, and take home a special potted creation.
- We are launching the Grow It Local program in early 2023 for all City of Melbourne community members to get involved in growing food at home. As part of the program, Grow it Local have launched the latest Autumn Seed Service, a patch-to-plate adventure that makes free heirloom seeds and instructional content available to local residents. This free offer is available to the first 100 participants who register to receive a package containing heirloom seed varieties including kale, rainbow chard and spinach. Participants will learn to grow from seed-to-spanakopita with Costa Georgiadis via online videos for each stage of the growing journey and support is also available from Grow it Local’s garden guru.
- We distributed productive plants displayed in front of the Melbourne Town Hall to community gardens and groups across the municipality, including Carlton, CBD, Docklands, East Melbourne, Kensington, North Melbourne, Southbank and South Yarra. In Southbank, Southbank Sustainability Group received 50+ plants to plant and share with the community.
What you told us
You’re interested in further promotion of composting, recycling, and renewable energy in the Southbank neighbourhood. You would like to see some practical initiatives to enable this.
“Green bins in apartment complexes. Green waste is currently being placed in rubbish bins; this leads to methane emissions and the wastage of green waste that could have otherwise been recycled.”
“Recycling facilities and more compost gardens - so many other cities globally already have this and there's no reason Melbourne/Southbank wouldn't.”
What we’re doing
We declared a climate and biodiversity emergency in 2019 and are taking bold action on climate change. We’ve committed to zero net emissions by 2040. Find out more about Sustainability for Melbourne, Climate Change Mitigation Strategy and some key programs and actions.
If you’d like to get involved check out volunteering opportunities.
LIVEABILITY
We’re looking at ways we can further support our residents across Melbourne to make their homes more comfortable, healthy, affordable and environmentally sustainable to live in. Some resources are available for residents here. Sustainability Victoria also offers resources supporting transition to a circular, climate resilient economy.
SOLAR
We became the first capital city council in Australia to be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy in 2017 through the Melbourne Renewable Energy Project. By continuing our innovation in renewable energy, Power Melbourne will play a lead role in reaching our ambition to become a city powered by 100 per cent renewables by 2030.
COMPOSTING
Our Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030 outlines a vision and actions to help become a zero-waste city.
We are leading the reduction of food waste and diversion of waste from landfill, through our food and garden organics (FOGO) collection service for single-unit and multi-unit dwellings up to five storeys. We will also be trialling textile bins and a food organics pilot in high-rise buildings. Residents can also access the compost revolution program.
RECYCLING
To prevent e-wastes going into landfill, we offer e-waste drop-off locations. You can drop off batteries at Boyd Community Hub, and other libraries. Find out more about how we support waste and recycling in apartment buildings.
We also support the idea of a circular economy and through leadership and community neighbourhood projects, including social enterprise grants, are reviewing a container deposit scheme, alternative waste technologies and developing circular economy guidelines.
What we’re doing next
Our next steps involve the development of Circular Economy Guidelines that will further support community projects and innovations that design out waste and promote repair, reuse and recycling.
As part of Victorian Government requirements, we’re considering glass recycling options including the possibility of communal centralised glass recycling options.
In the second half of 2022, a new high rise food organics pilot project is commencing in up to six buildings.
A second food organics collection pilot for residential high-rise buildings will be coming in 2023/24. Community consultation and an Expression of Interest to participate will open to residential high-rise buildings later in 2022.
Over the next two years, the food organic pilot programs will aim to explore the best method/s for organics collection in residential high-rise buildings before a service is rolled out to all residential buildings six storeys and above.
October 2023
- Community Resilience Assessments were carried out to understand better and respond to the physical and social vulnerabilities that communities face before, during, and after a disaster. We piloted assessments in Southbank, Kensington, and Carlton.
- Southbank Sustainability Group continues fortnightly gardening at Boyd Community Hub. The group is also delivering a series of free sustainability workshops: Planting for Small Spaces, Zero Waste Living, and Indoor Plant Propagation. Boyd library supports the workshops by curating relevant books for display. The series is supported by our Waste Minimisation and Innovation Fund small grant.
- More residential apartment buildings are providing platforms for residents to communicate and exchange second-hand items. Some buildings offer digital platforms, some set up physical noticeboards, and others have updated their policy so people can utilise noticeboards in the mailrooms.
- We’re committed to reducing the threat of extreme urban heat for all, particularly vulnerable people. We are working to create a ‘heat safe city’ with our goal that the city provides places of respite for residents, workers and visitors during extreme heat events. Earlier in the year we consulted with community on heat health priorities and ways we can create a heat safe city. This feedback is helping us develop heat safe city principles and advocacy positions which will guide actions for future summers, such as design of streetscapes and open space, location of shading and services to support vulnerable community members. Keep an eye on the Heat Safe City page page for further updates.
- Our Power Melbourne project will install a network of neighbourhood batteries around the city to help renters, people living in apartments, and those running small businesses access more affordable renewable energy. Last year we consulted with community on where the first batteries could be installed, and the first three locations were approved by Council: Library at the Dock in Docklands, Boyd Community Hub in Southbank, and Council House 2 in CBD.
- Re-love Festival will take place in November for the locals to participate in a second-hand market.
February 2023
- We continue to provide a wide range of services for reusing, recycling or disposing of unwanted household items and materials. 11,400 combined tonnes were collected from various sources including communal recycling bins, cardboard bins and residential collections between October 2022 and January 2023
- We continue to roll out the Food Organics Service to high-rise residential apartments across Melbourne. Selected buildings are undertaking a 12-month pilot program to collect and process food scraps using an on-site organic processor. For more information on the pilot, visit Food Organics High-Rise Pilot.
- We’ve become one of six cities around the world to appoint dedicated Chief Heat Officers to raise awareness about extreme heat risk, provide local leadership and collaborate to deliver solutions. We’re currently delivering Heat Health Preparedness seminars with a range of community groups across February and March. We're also working on developing a plan to make the city safer from the impacts of heat and will be engaging with people who may be vulnerable to the experiences of heatwaves across each neighbourhood.
November 2022
- We're working to make it easier to access affordable renewable energy, Our Power Melbourne project will install a network of neighbourhood batteries around the city to help renters, people living in apartments, and those running small businesses access more affordable renewable electricity. Late last year we consulted with community on ideas for where neighbourhood batteries should be installed and how we design retail plans with an energy retail partner. Keep an eye on the Power Melbourne page for opportunities to get involved in the next stage of engagement activities, opening soon.
- We’re continuing to roll out our four-year Major Initiative Prepare Melbourne to engage and prepare residents and communities to enhance their resilience to hazards, disasters and the health impacts of climate change. Over October and November last year we delivered a pilot project for the Southbank neighbourhood to better understand the physical and social vulnerabilities our communities face to disasters and how we can build a more resilient community. Community ideas for resilience building will be shared soon. Kensington and then Carlton will be the next neighbourhoods to participate in community resilience assessments during March to May. Look out for information on Participate on how to get involved in the coming month. To be better prepared for challenges that may come your way, consider downloading the Get Prepared App from Australian Red Cross.
We will focus on driving economic recovery and creating the conditions for a strong, adaptive, sustainable and thriving future city economy supported by a diverse mix of industries and jobs that provide dignity and opportunity.
What you told us
You told us that although you could walk everywhere in Southbank, you feel that the area is not very well supported by the existing transport network.
Issues you mentioned include that the CBD is too close to pay full fare for a tram, and that private e-scooters cannot legally be used in the area. You also mentioned that Southbank is not safe for people riding bikes. Additionally, without water transport, Yarra River can’t connect Southbank to other suburbs, and it is difficult to go from East to West and vice versa.
“It would be great to have a tram line the cuts through from St Kilda Road all the way to Port Melbourne going through Southbank/South Melbourne. The tram system is already well developed, the only thing missing is really a tram/bus that could bring people horizontally from the Botanical Gardens to Port Melbourne so that all the people in South Melbourne and Southbank can benefit from these transports.”
“More affordable river transport from Richmond-Southbank-Northbank-South Wharf-Docklands. Free tram as far as Crown/City Road. Free CBD buses.”
“Clear bike/scooter paths that separate pedestrians and vehicles, like along the Southbank Boulevard.”
“I’ve been using a privately owned electric scooter now for about four months and DESPERATELY need the rules changed around them. I feel like a criminal riding and following the same rules the lime and neuron ones have.”
What we’re doing
We continue to implement the Transport Strategy 2030, including delivery of a protected bike lane network, micro mobility trials including e-scooters, more efficient traffic signal timing, developing an approach to support electric vehicles, bicycling encouragement programs and advocacy and implementation with the Victorian Government.
Through the City Road Master Plan, we are transforming City Road into a safe and welcoming place for everyone through a series of capital works projects. As part of the plan, we have constructed bike lanes on Southbank Boulevard, Kavanagh Street and Balston Street (connecting into City Road West).
October 2023
- The St Kilda Road protected bike lanes from St Kilda to Southbank Boulevard were completed during 2022–23, delivering vital connection for people travelling to the city by bike and e-scooter. Major Roads Projects Victoria delivered the project, and we provided significant design input and transport engineering advice.
- Southbank3006 organised a community forum in February to raise awareness around bike safety. Victoria Police spoke about theft prevention, and the City of Melbourne discussed transport strategy.
- We’re continuing to work with the Department of Transport and Planning to monitor and evaluate the trial of shared e-scooters. The trial has been extended until 5 October. To date, there have been 5.4 million e-scooter trips made since the beginning of the trial in February 2022. In August, the Future Melbourne Committee voted on the future of commercial e-scooter operations. The rollout of in-app designated parking across the municipality is being looked at as part of this. We are also talking to Victoria Police and the Minister for Roads and Road Safety to ensure they can provide adequate infrastructure and enforcement of the road rules for e-scooters. We are currently working with e-scooter operators to rollout designated parking, focussing first on the Hoddle Grid, before moving to other high activity locations such as Southbank, Docklands and Carlton. By October we should have transitioned Flinders Street, Swanston Street, Elizabeth Street to fully designated parking. E-scooter operators are trialling technology to improve the safety of e-scooters, particularly targeting illegal activity such as footpath riding and riding with a passenger.
- We launched Biketober 2023, a bike encouragement program, in collaboration with RACV, Banyule, Glen Eira, Bendigo and Ballarat. Biketober will run through October and is open to businesses and community members for free.
- We are working through the M9 Active Transport Behaviour Change Working Group, made up of other inner-Melbourne councils, to support collaboration on sustainable transport behaviour change initiatives. This work has seen Open Streets and e-Bike subsidy schemes expand across multiple areas.
- We are working closely with community stakeholders to keep bike lanes clear of bins and parked vehicles.
February 2023
- We’re working with the Department of Transport and Planning to inform its evaluation of the e-scooter trial and decision on the legalisation of e-scooters. The Victorian Government extended the trial until 31 March 2023. To date there have been more than 3 million e-scooter trips across the city as part of the trial, many of which are replacing car trips and providing increased access to city attractions.
- We’re collaborating with other nearby councils as part of M9 to develop actions that encourage more people to ride. We supported Ride to Work Day activities in October that showed an increase in bike and scooter users by 48 per cent compared to 2021.
November 2022
- Stage 1 works of the St Kilda Road Bike Lanes project by Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV) including the new protected bike lanes between Linlithgow Avenue and Dorcas Street are now complete. Stage 2 works between Toorak Road and Union Street commenced in early November 2022 and are expected to be complete by mid 2023.
What you told us
You would like a wider range of hospitality and retail businesses that attract locals and visitors, especially on City Road. You would like to enjoy spending more time in Southbank, rather than needing to go to South Melbourne or the CBD, for the variety of options these areas offer you.
“I think just put some restaurants or shop (other than Woolies) so it's easy for people to eat. People don't need to go to City or somewhere for a date."
“More local scale cafes/restaurants/retail to balance the high-rise.”
“I would like a larger variety of stores to be located here to bring in more people. Too many restaurants only bring in crowds for lunch and dinner and the rest of the time it's quiet.”
What we’re doing
Through our Business Precinct Program 2021-25 we provide annual financial support to precinct trader associations to improve the look and feel of their areas, help deliver local activations and marketing and promotion campaigns. The associations will also play a role in attracting businesses.
Our Business Concierge plays a key role in supporting prospective start-ups and businesses owners via our Business in Melbourne newsletter and other strategic communications.
We provide a range of support for businesses including: small business grants, mentoring, workshops, extended outdoor dining initiatives, regular newsletters, research and data sharing.
October 2023
- We’re supporting the Yarra River Business Association with funding for business development initiatives, consumer advertising, marketing and promotion campaigns and local activations that promote the Southbank trader area to visitors.
- Yarra River Business Association carried out market research to support local traders to meet residents' needs. The results will be shared via workshops and the quarterly lunch in November.
- Our small business grants program supports new businesses to get started and existing businesses to expand and grow. This year we have a special focus on supporting small businesses that enhance the city’s vitality by increasing the occupancy rate of shopfronts across the municipality.
- Our Business Concierge team had 8089 contacts with business across the City of Melbourne between February and September.
February 2023
- Between October 2022 and January 2023 our Business Concierge service have had 5000 interactions with businesses across the municipality. The range of enquiries have been simple support requests over the phone and email, face to face interactions and supporting new businesses in their start up.
- We’ve launched the Melbourne Economy Snapshot, a free seasonal activity guide designed to help businesses make data-led decisions by understanding Melbourne’s new rhythm. The first edition shows a sky-high December, with a record $1.1b spent across the city. Friday and Saturday remain the busiest days in Melbourne, while our night-time economy continues to flourish. Delve into the nitty gritty and explore weekday, weekend and night-time activity.
- The City of Melbourne’s social enterprise grants program supports social enterprise businesses to thrive in Melbourne. The program supports startups and existing enterprises which are expanding or developing new products or services with a distinctly social purpose. Applications are currently open and close at 2pm Friday 10 March 2023.
December 2022
- To support local businesses, we lifted the holiday spirit with our Christmas Decoration program. The river’s edge in Southbank remains a focus with regards to driving visitation and connection to the city’s core retail and hospitality offering. Christmas installations and activations were held across the precinct from late November to 24 December 2022.
- The Christmas Collective program is an initiative as part of the Christmas Festival. One of the objectives is to increase visitation and spend supporting the economy. A total of $74,726.00 in funding was allocated to 15 businesses/groups to deliver an event or activity.
- Dusk 2 Dawn applications were open throughout November and December. Applications are currently being reviewed, with successful activations commencing in May.
November 2022
- The Yarra River Businss Association (YRBA) launched "Your Yarra 3006 - Riverside Resident Survey" to guide local business community to be more supportive of local residents' needs. – from what they offer to how much they charge for it – as well as provide more diverse hospitality and retail options.
- The Yarra River Business Association (YRBA) has commissioned a marketing examination of the South and North Wharves of the Yarra River. They shared the findings at a business luncheon 11 November 2022 at South Wharf.
We will celebrate and protect the places, people and cultures that make Melbourne a unique, vibrant and creative city with world-leading liveability.
What you told us
You would like more green and open spaces where community members can relax and enjoy the facilities. You would like these spaces to have improved amenities such as seating, shading, bins, clean public toilets, and family friendly playgrounds.
“More greenery and mini parks that are gated for children. A gate does not always need to remind you of a prison, there are beautiful ways to gate areas and protect little ones from the busy traffic of Southbank.”
“Transform Queensbridge Square into a community friendly space. It is a big space used by pedestrians and cyclists where locals could gather, but at the moment it has no seating and no reasons for people to stop.”
“Picnic facilities, places where small groups and families can gather, with tables and seating, access to clean water and public toilets.”
What we’re doing
A Major Initiative of the Council Plan 2021 - 2025 is to increase open space with $20 million allocated for the purposes of acquiring public open space in Southbank.
We have also developed an Open Space Strategy to meet the needs of the growing and changing residential and worker population across the entire municipality, and to respond to issues such as climate change.
October 2023
- Opportunities for acquiring land for public open space in Southbank and urban renewal areas continued to be investigated.
- An additional 0.44 ha has become permanent open space in Southbank. This figure includes four areas along Southbank Boulevard from Sturt Street to Fawkner Street, including the newly completed and popular play space.
- A review and update of the Open Space Strategy and Open Space Contributions Framework started this year, to guide which areas in the municipality most need new public open space.
- Dodds Street Linear Park is under construction. The new park will create 1300 square metres of native grassland planting and 35 new trees set amongst paved bluestone pathways and gathering spaces. Landscape works started in January and are anticipated to be complete by the end of December.
- ’Transforming Southbank Boulevard’ received the Victorian Civic Landscape Award of Excellence.
February 2023
- We have launched the trial of the Floating Wetlands project on the Yarra River - Birrarung. Three large wetlands have been towed onto the river, occupying prime locations at Yarra’s Edge near Webb Bridge and Victoria Harbour Promenade in Docklands. The Floating Wetlands trial is a joint initiative of the City of Melbourne and the State Government. The project has been funded through a $700,000 grant from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and was first identified by the City of Melbourne’s 2019 Yarra River Strategy.
- New green space is on the way for Southbank as we convert roadway into public open space in the heart of Melbourne’s arts precinct. Located in Dodds Street between Grant Street and Southbank Boulevard, the Dodds Street Linear Park project will create 1,300 square metres of native grassland planting and 35 new trees set amongst paved bluestone pathways and gathering spaces. This new landscape will be resilient and sustainable, with inbuilt raingardens and structural soil made onsite from remediated site soils. The landscape works are anticipated to be completed by the end of December 2023.
- The Greenline Project’s Birrarung Marr Precinct Site One concept design was endorsed by the Future Melbourne Committee on Tuesday 6 December 2022. We will now progress the detailed design and program planning for Birrarung Marr Precinct Site One, working towards construction commencing in 2023. Thank you to everyone who contributed their feedback. Consultation took place from 2 August to 12 September 2022. View the final concept design and learn more about what we heard on the community consultation page. You can also access the meeting notes and watch a livestream from the Future Melbourne Committee meeting.
- Transforming Southbank Boulevard project is completed. The project created five new public spaces and neighbourhood parks (more than 22,000 sqm) along Southbank Boulevard up to City Road, including the new "risk" play space between Kavanagh and Fawkner streets.
What you told us
We’ve heard that there has been an increase in pet ownership, especially of dogs in Southbank. You’d like to see more designated off-leash areas, pet services, and responsible pet owner education while maintaining safety and comfort for other park users.
“Safe, fenced, off-leash dog park with grass and bins. Nicer one than the one under Kings Way.”
“Dog ownership is overwhelming, particularly after COVID-19. We MUST have more facilities both for children and for our canine friends.”
“Integrating more dog friendly places and activities such as restaurants, cafes, and dog parks.”
What we’re doing
Our Domestic Animal Management Plan 2017–21 commits us to review available off-leash areas and make sure dog owners are considered in planning for future public open space. We are planning for the growing number of dogs in our city and have had community consultations from all park users on how we should do this.
The nearest off-leash areas for residents in Southbank is the new dog park on the Kings Way and Moray Street Reserve and the lawns of Point Park which is available from 6pm to 8am from 1 November to 31 March and from 5pm to 9am, from 1 April to 31 October.
Find out more information about walking your dogs in the neighbourhood.
February 2023
- We are currently working on developing 'dogs in the park' events in neighbourhoods. These events, in partnership with behaviour trainers from the Lost Dogs' Home aim to raise awareness and provide education of dog behaviour, enrichment and responsible dog ownership to improve dog and human experiences in public places.
What you told us
You told us that the key characteristic of Southbank is rapid urbanisation. You are concerned about the abundance of high-rise construction and its impact on the liveability of residents. You said don’t feel heard and you want Southbank to be recognised as a residential area with less development, more regulation, better parking facilities and community spaces.
“The number of people living in Southbank has increased exponentially. Our roads and parking have not kept up with this growth, much less what’s to come in the next few years once even more approved developments are completed. Congestion on the roads is already a big issue. Residents also need to have access to free parking in the area so that people can host visitors and that our homes can be used as more than just places for us to sleep.”
“Clarify residents’ rights to object to planning developments – residents' voices are not heard in the planning process.”
“Stop building apartments that are not liveable. They are too small. It is not a house. Don't approve unliveable housing. Conditions of living is getting worse. More regulation for apartments for better living condition.”
“Any new developments need to consider their effect on overshadowing and wind - Southbank is unbearable windy and hot now due to the tunnels created by over construction and concrete."
What we’re doing
We’ve developed a Development Activity Model which provides a visualisation of future buildings in Melbourne to keep you updated.
Following extensive review and consultation, the new Code of Practice for Building, Construction and Works has been adopted and came into effect from 17 March 2022. The new Code coincides with the recent launch of City of Melbourne Services online, which brings digital permits to construction activities. For further information: Building and Development - City of Melbourne.
We are also advocating to the State Government for stronger regulations on managing construction noise.
We’re exploring new technology to better manage parking spaces and are also looking to develop a new parking plan for our city.
February 2023
The Neighbourhood Portals have been updated with links to planning register entries relevant to each neighbourhood, making it easier for community members to find local planning applications. Weekly Planning Applications and Decisions Lists are now sorted by neighbourhood for ease of reference. Sign up to receive these weekly emails.
What you told us
You want Southbank to be recognised as a residential suburb, a place people want to spend time in, not a thoroughfare or a sterile concrete jungle. You want the streets to be inviting, pleasant, and community friendly. You believe this could be helped through more public amenities, creative installations, and beautification of spaces.
“Walkability. Make people feel happy to walk around.”
“Better connectivity. Encourage people to explore the area. For instance, put interesting things (art installation, objects). Wayfinding. Signs. Street activation.”
“Getting vacant buildings such as old Queensbridge Hotel used or turned into public space, improvement of unused space, for example under Kings Way."
“More clean facilities - rubbish bins are dirty. Council is not properly cleaning the street.”
“Public toilets are required here; they use the restaurants toilets but there should be more access to toilets."
What we’re doing
We are working on the City Road Master Plan to transform City Road into a safe and welcoming place for everyone through a series of capital works projects.
The Plan aims to improve the safety and amenity of the street to encourage more people to walk, cycle and use public transport. As part of the City Road Master Plan, the intersection of City Road and Southbank Boulevard has been upgraded.
We empty and clean bins in public areas and do this more often when big events are on. There are almost 450 solar smart bins, 230 public recycling bins, 2000 public litter bins and 500 cigarette butt bins around the City of Melbourne. If you notice any problems, please report a bin issue.
Major roads such as City Road, Southbank Promenade, and Southbank Boulevard are cleaned every day, medium streets are cleaned a couple of times a week, and residential streets are cleaned once a week. You can report a street cleaning issue anytime.
We repair and maintain street furniture and drains, too. You can also report issues related to street repair and maintenance.
We are committed to maintaining beautiful clean streets and getting everyone involved with reducing litter. We also remove graffiti and in early 2022, we carried out a Graffiti blitz in all neighbourhoods. You can report graffiti for removal anytime.
What we’re doing next
We are keen to look at opportunities to provide further amenities to assist workers, residents and visitors participate safely and comfortably in activities.
October 2023
- ’Transforming Southbank Boulevard’ received the Victorian Civic Landscape Award of Excellence.
February 2023
- We are monitoring Haig St daily to remove all instances of trolleys, dumped rubbish and litter to ensure residents feel safe on the street.
- We are tackling illegally dumped hard rubbish in the Dodds Street and Wells Street area by regular patrols and enforcement action. We have provided education to a building manager in the area. Due to regular patrols, items being dumped on the roadside have been reported more quickly, and are therefore removed in a timely manner.
- Between October 2022 and January 2023:
We will plan and design for the safety and wellbeing of those who live, visit, work and do business in Melbourne, regardless of their background.
What you told us
You told us that the streets are not pedestrian-friendly. You want more pedestrian crossings, longer crossing times to give people more time to cross safely, lower speed limits on the main road for cars, and bikes and e-scooters to be removed from the footpaths.
“Traffic lights length - so many of green lights for pedestrians last for approximately ten seconds on large roads making it impossible for people to cross without the light turning red.”
“Power and City Road to be safer. There are City Road crashes, and trucks are problems.”
“Less bikes mixing with pedestrians, they are a safety hazard to the pedestrians.”
What we’re doing
We continue to implement the Transport Strategy 2030, including the delivery of a protected bike lane network, micro mobility trials including e-scooters, more efficient traffic signal timing, developing an approach to support electric vehicles, bicycling encouragement programs and advocacy and implementation with the Victorian Government.
Through our City Road Master Plan, we are transforming City Road into a safe and welcoming place for everyone through a series of capital works projects. It also aims to improve the safety and amenity of the street in order to encourage more people to walk, cycle and use public transport.
As part of the City Road Master Plan, we are working closely with the Department of Transport and State Government to improve safety at the intersection of City Road and Power Street and a short-term solution is already in place. In July 2021, the State Government committed $2.5 million to upgrade the intersection.
October 2023
- We installed a pedestrian crossing at Balston Street, City Road, and Balston Street, Kavanagh Street.
- In March and April this year, we asked the Southbank community to identify pedestrian and road safety issues they have experienced in the neighbourhood and possible safety improvements. The consultation took place online through Participate Melbourne where the community was asked to mark their pedestrian and road safety issues on a map of Southbank. A total of 1160 comments were received on the map. The transport engineering consultants used these community comments alongside historical community feedback, crash statistics, and vehicle speed and volume data to come up with a list proposed pedestrian improvement projects for the neighbourhood. The details of these projects will be shared with the community at two information sessions in October and November. The sessions will be co-hosted with resident groups (Southbank Residents Association and Southbank3006).
- Our librarians curated a reading list for people who want to learn more about transport. The ’People Friendly Street’ has 30 items with a mix of fiction and non-fiction, digital and physical books.
- Victoria Police distributed two posters to encourage people to report poor cycling and e-scooter behaviour and report an incident or collision with a cyclist or e-scooter rider
- The City Road and Power Street intersection upgrade has been completed to improve safety for pedestrians and drivers.
February 2023
- The Southbank Pedestrian Safety Study has launched.
- We are refining detailed designs for zebra crossings, kerb extensions, and road humps at two locations including Balston Street at Kavanagh Street and Balston Street at City Road. Construction will commence soon.
- To improve pedestrian safety on Southbank Promenade, we worked with the Southbank Residents Association (SRA) and installed a sensor to capture data. The data will help us understand the flow of users, their speed and behaviours, and their peak travelling times.
- We are renewing and upgrading infrastructure to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act, predominantly Tactile Ground Surface Indicators (TGSIs). This program of works is running ahead of schedule and at the end of January approximately 20 projects have been delivered, equating to over 70% of the program.
- The City Road and Power Street intersection is undergoing a major upgrade to improve safety for pedestrians and drivers.
November 2022
- Transforming Southbank Boulevard project is completed. The project has turned this once busy street in the heart of Melbourne’s Arts Precinct into one of Australia’s most pedestrian-friendly places.
What you told us
You told us that traffic noise particularly from trucks and heavy vehicles is a concern especially for residents. You would like more traffic management initiatives to help with this and to increase your sense of safety and wellbeing.
“The number one thing that needs to be changed as a matter of urgency and safety is the removal of heavy vehicles.”
“Traffic management needs a complete overhaul. Traffic congestion and noise along City Road has got significantly worse since I moved in 10+ years ago. Primarily from trucks and motorbikes. Cars regularly run red lights at pedestrian crossings on City Road making it unsafe to cross with children. Due to inclusion of bike lanes and reduced lanes on side roads, traffic now uses back streets of Southbank causing even more congestion and making it difficult for pedestrians to cross without lights/more pedestrian crossings."
“Need sound barriers to mask traffic noise along major roads Kings Way, City Road, etcetera.”
What we’re doing
We’re exploring new technology to better manage parking spaces and are also looking to develop a new parking plan for our city.
We support reducing truck traffic and reducing overall traffic volumes for the benefit of the community. In the short to medium term we are advocating our concerns to State road authorities, with a long term desire to capitalise on West Gate Tunnel works to help reduce traffic volumes through the central city, and encourage greater use of bypass routes.
October 2023
- Community consultation on the Parking and Kerbside Management Plan took place from March to April. Overall, there was a high level of support for the direction of the draft plan. Results showed there was strong support for a strategic and data-led approach to kerbside management and equitable and inclusive access to kerbside space. Council endorsed the plan in May and we're currently implementing parking improvements in the CBD. We'll shortly be engaging with residents and businesses, and improving parking across our neighbourhoods. We are anticipating Southbank consultation in November.
- We are working closely with community stakeholders to improve local traffic. These works include changing parking spaces and rules to improve sight lines and access, and making it easy to report issues.
- The City Road and Power Street intersection upgrade has been completed to improve safety for pedestrians and drivers.
February 2023
- The City Road and Power Street intersection is undergoing a major upgrade to improve safety for pedestrians and drivers. The work is anticipated to be completed by March 2023
What you told us
You said you don’t always feel safe in the area and would like to see further safety measures to help address this. Your suggestions include; an increased police and security presence, better lighting in the streets, and more CCTV to especially help with issues relating to anti-social behaviour and people who are experiencing homelessness.
“Information about police service - I don't even know where police station is.”
“Good police presence and more CCTV.”
“Safety is an issue. More active police presence needed. Issues with intoxicated people coming in store. Cops are coming too late.”
What we’re doing
We are working closely with Victoria Police on the Neighbourhood Policing Initiative.
To help people who are sleeping rough in the area, we have a specialised team supporting them to find permanent pathways out of homelessness. We are the first council in Victoria to have an in-house outreach program for rough sleepers.
Our Affordable Housing Strategy 2020-2030 commits us to providing more affordable housing in the municipality which will be coordinated through our Homes Melbourne initiative.
We also provide a free syringe collection service to ensure that needles and syringes are disposed of safely.
October 2023
- Southbank Safety and Security Committee (SSSC) meets quarterly to discuss safety issues. In the April meeting, committee members visited the Safe City Cameras Control Room in Melbourne Town Hall. The June meeting covered emergency preparedness in high-rise buildings, while the September meeting covered bikes and e-scooters on Southbank Promenade. Security professionals and representatives of Owners Corporations are welcome to attend the meetings.
- A ‘drug safety in the city’ flyer was produced and distributed to key stakeholders and businesses.
- Our library social worker outreach program continues to support community members through outreach and connection to social services.
- We hosted the Melbourne Licensees Forum in June, where licensed venues shared information and discussed matters impacting them. This forum shared learnings and information about the late night liquor license freeze and public intoxication law reform.
February 2023
- Southbank Safety and Security Committee (SSSC)'s quarterly meeting was held on 6 December at Boyd Community Hub. The committee discussed New Year's Eve planning and Victoria Police Situational Awareness Map (SAM) to include community CCTV.
The Need to Know editorial group has increased distribution of their Zine over 2022 tenfold to around 2000 hardcopies around key points and agencies. Members have secured employment, made friends, learnt digital literacy skills and one participant is exhibitng their art at Kathleen Syme Library and Community Centre in March. Jobs Victoria Advocates from City Local Learning and Employment Network are continuing their partnership with Libraries and are availabe at Kathleen Syme Centre for free employment, financial and legal support.
What you told us
You would like to see more programs and events to help people connect with one another. You’d specifically like support for volunteering, community, recreational, and art activities. You also told us you are proud of the Arts Precinct, and you’d like to see more arts and cultural activities for residents. You would also like to have a centralised place to share community information.
“Connecting after COVID-19. Events like street parties."
“Centralised place for all information - information in Southbank community is fragmented, incomplete, a lot happening, and we don't know about it.”
“The unique identity of the Arts Precinct could be further developed and extended across Southbank and the surrounding parks by including more public art that would be accessible to everyone. Make the area more enjoyable, by supporting more grassroots art and culture, by hosting free or affordable concerts and events, by having more initiatives from the existing cultural institutions that could host locals’ nights, workshops and so on."
What we’re doing
We support community organisations and projects through Connected Community Grants and Connected Neighbourhoods Small Grants programs.
The Christmas Collective Program is an initiative of the Christmas Festival. If you’d like to organise an event or activity that displays a distinctly Christmas theme, check out this grant.
We play an important role in the arts, fostering creative experimentation by encouraging and funding artists, promoting participation, and bringing art and people together. We support arts and cultural activities in Southbank in many ways.
We deliver some of the Christmas Festival in Southbank and music events as part of On the Road again and Music in the City with pop up celebrity performances.
We are presenting multiple premier events with extensive free programming throughout the year, including New Year’s Eve, Christmas Festival, Moomba, Melbourne Music Week, Melbourne Fashion Week, narrm ngarrgu Melbourne Knowledge Week and YIRRAMBOI.
Several events supported through Event Partnership Program (EPP) and are held in Southbank including: Kids Summer Festival and Kids Exhibitions, Queer, Kids Day Out, Southbank, Community Day, Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation Festival and Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation Festival. You can find out more about current events at What’s On page.
Our Arts Grants are available to artists and small to medium arts organisations from all backgrounds and abilities. Through these grant programs we’re supporting local artists across the city including people living in and presenting their work in and around Southbank.
The Creative Spaces website is a free resource for artist and creative industries that connects artists and creative practitioners with spaces, promotes artists and their work, and provides an index of live and virtual events.
We operate several recreation centres, offering a wide range of sports and recreational facilities and programs for people of all ages and fitness levels. You can also find information on sporting activities including cycling, walking, skating and more.
Our Active Melbourne App is free and includes on-demand and live virtual gym classes and tracking and personalised training programs.
We provide volunteering opportunities including information on how to connect with community based organisations. Check out the Community notice board for local organisations and event
October 2023
- Southbank Library and Boyd Community Hub programmes included storytime, youth programs, book clubs, conversation clubs and employment support workshops.
- Southbank Sustainability Group continues fortnightly gardening at Boyd Community Hub. The group is also delivering a series of free sustainability workshops: Planting for Small Spaces, Zero Waste Living, and Indoor Plant Propagation. Boyd library supports the workshops by curating relevant books for display. The series is supported by our Waste Minimisation and Innovation Fund small grant.
- Southbank Residents Association (SRA) hosted community events with topics including New to Southbank’, local history, and strata living.
- Southbank3006 hosted community events with topics including bike safety, light pollution, strata reform, and Aboriginal cultural heritage.
- 4 groups in Southbank received Connected Neighbourhood Small Grant to strengthen community connections. With the grant, Freshwater Place residential building will organise activities around the existing community garden, Gallery Tower residential building will engage with an Aboriginal artist for an art project, and Rozi Flower Fairies will offer a “Flower Fairies & The Miracle Question” project where participants can craft flower-fairies with introduction to visioning thoughts. FilmLab hosted a successful event “Table Read”, an organised reading of a movie script.- There are other ongoing community events at Boyd Community Hub including weekly Tai Chi, monthly board games, and monthly community tea and hangout sessions.
- 16 community members and businesses joined Imagination Southbank. In this 5-day workshop, participants imagined the future of Southbank and how they might create these futures. Imagination Southbank is a collaborative project between Centre for Public Impact, Hinterland Lab, and City of Melbourne.
February 2023
- Boyd Community Hub is busy with community activities: Australian Business Review (ABR) hosts Poets Lounge on the first Wednesday of the month. Southbank Sustainability Group meets every fortnight at the community garden. Southbank3006 hosts monthly community forum on the last Sunday of the month. Library children’s programs are on every Monday and Thursday.
- Work is underway to prepare for Melbourne’s much-loved Moomba Festival with an extra day of fun added to its line up of family-friendly entertainment in celebration of its 69th year. Australia’s largest free community festival will be bursting with colour and excitement, featuring a range of spectacular events and attractions. The festival will support over 800 jobs across a range of sectors including the arts, creative, construction and services industries. The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Symbol initiative will also run again at this year’s event, helping support those living with hidden disabilities.
- We are sponsoring following events via the annual Event Partnership Program and the City Reactivation Event Support Program in the period from October 2022 to December 2023: NGV Kids Summer Festival and Kids Exhibition at NGV (1/1/2023 – 8/10/2023), Victorian Seniors Festival, Victorian Disability Sports and Recreation Festival
- We have supported various community projects with Connected Neighbourhoods Small Grants. Applications are open all year until the budget has been fully allocated. No applications have been submitted from the Southbank neighbourhood.
- Applications for our Inclusive Communities Grants are open. This includes operational support grants of up to $2000 and for larger projects and initiatives up to $20,000.
- Applications for Community Events Grants are open. Up to $10,000 per event are available to not-for-profit organisations.
December 2022
- Owners Corporations and management companies are looking at ways to bring residents together for social activities, including Essential Community which invited residents from various high-rise buildings in the CBD and Southbank to meet their neighbours for a Trivia Night in December.
- Southbank 3006 residents group supported by Christmas Collective Program and Boyd Community Hub delivered the Xmas event "A Very Merry Friend-mas " with over 1000 resident attending on the day enjoying a full day of programmed activities , music, performances, stalls and more.
- The Yarra River Business Association (YRBA) hosted the South Wharf Christmas Choir and Film evening on 18 December 2022.
- Melbourne experienced its busiest month of activity in December since the start of the pandemic, anchored by the City of Melbourne’s beloved Christmas Festival and biggest ever New Year’s Eve celebrations. Around 475,000 people brought in 2023 in style in the city, with the vast majority of travellers safely enjoying the dazzling fireworks and laser displays from 30 CBD rooftops.
- We lifted the holiday spirit with our Christmas Decoration program. The river’s edge in Southbank remains a focus with regards to driving visitation and connection to the city’s core retail and hospitality offering. Queensbridge Square featured a pop-up playground featuring bell swings, a giant dance floor and an interactive orchestra. Christmas installations and activations were held across the precinct from late November to 24 December 2022.
Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners
The City of Melbourne respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land we govern, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin and pays respect to their Elders past and present. We acknowledge and honour the unbroken spiritual, cultural and political connection they have maintained to this unique place for more than 2000 generations.
We accept the invitation in the Uluru Statement from the Heart and are committed to walking together to build a better future.
